從受害者到象徵：《孤雛淚》中南西的救贖與幽靈般存在

From Victim to Symbol: Nancy’s Redemption and Haunting Presence in Oliver Twist

本文探討《孤雛淚》第四十七章〈致命的後果〉，該章節以駭人筆觸描繪比爾·賽克斯在暴怒中殺害情人南西的過程。賽克斯受失控怒火驅使的暴力行徑，被刻畫得極其殘暴：他猛烈毆打南西致其重傷，最終用鈍器將她擊斃。此場景以赤裸筆觸展現家暴的慘烈後果。本文剖析狄更斯對維多利亞時代家暴的刻畫：南西拒絕離開賽克斯並最終屈從命運的抉擇，彰顯其深陷虐待關係的困境。她以被動抗拒與哀求取代反抗的姿態，使其形象更顯可悲而非悲劇性，映照現實家暴受害者常見的情感囚禁與自我責難。臨終之際，南西試圖將手帕高舉向天，象徵著對救贖的絕望祈求與反抗的姿態。她的死亡雖顯悲慘，卻被描繪成一種靈魂的解脫—狄更斯著重刻畫她蛻變為幽靈般的存在，超越了生前的苦難。南西的幽靈不斷糾纏賽克斯，象徵著她永恆的影響力與兇手未解的罪惡感。此段情節暗喻狄更斯時代英國的社會問題—尤其是女性邊緣化現象，以及貧困、犯罪與家庭暴力相互交織的困境—儘管本文主要聚焦於南西的角色塑造，而非完整社會學論述。狄更斯透過融合犧牲與幽靈報復的元素，深化了對南西的刻畫，將她從受害者轉化為持久力量與抵抗精神的象徵。此種描繪突顯了家暴議題及邊緣群體困境的討論，至今仍具現實意義。

This paper explores Chapter 47 of Oliver Twist, titled“Fatal Consequences,”which presents a harrowing account of Bill Sikes murdering his lover, Nancy, in a fit of rage. Sikes’s violent attack, driven by uncontrollable fury, is depicted with intense brutality. He violently assaults Nancy, leaving her gravely injured and ultimately bludgeoning her to death. The scene is starkly graphic, showcasing the severe consequences of domestic abuse. This paper explores Dickens’s portrayal of the Victorian domestic violence. Nancy’s refusal to leave Sikes and her eventual resignation to her fate illustrate her entrapment in an abusive relationship. Her passive response and emotional pleas, rather than resistance, render her a pathetic rather than tragic figure, reflecting the emotional entrapment and self-blame often observed in real-life domestic abuse victims. In her final moments, Nancy’s attempt to hold up a handkerchief towards Heaven symbolizes a desperate plea for redemption and an act of defiance. Her death, though pathetic, is portrayed as a form of spiritual release, with Dickens emphasizing her transformation into a spectral figure that transcends her suffering. Nancy’s ghostly presence haunts Sikes, symbolizing her enduring influence and the unresolved guilt of her murderer. The episode gestures toward social problems in Dickens’s Britain—especially the marginalization of women and the intersections of poverty, crime, and domestic coercion—though this paper focuses primarily on Nancy’s characterization rather than a full sociological account. By blending elements of sacrifice and spectral retribution, Dickens adds depth to his portrayal of Nancy, transforming her from a victim into a symbol of enduring power and resistance. This portrayal underscores the continuing relevance of discussions about domestic violence and the challenges faced by marginalized individuals.